Chapter 1

Tears of a Dragon

The dark room was eerily quiet except for the shallow labored breaths coming from the blond girl sitting on the edge of the bed. She stared with puffy red, empty-looking eyes down at the photo in her left hand while the other appeared withered and discolored and hung limp in a sling. Her chest rose and fell in irregular intervals, and her orange tank top did little to hide the scar tissue beside her heart and the dark, ugly bruise that traveled from her breasts all the way down to her midriff.

With an unsteady hand she took the corner of the photo in between her teeth and slowly tore off about a fourth. She then gently placed the remaining three-fourths atop one of the piles beside her before removing the smaller strip from her mouth.

A teenage girl wearing all black with a bow in her hair and amber colored eyes smiled up at her while a tanned arm wrapped around her waist and strands of golden hair cascaded atop her shoulder. She stared down at her with a vacant expression before letting go and watching her slowly descend onto the floor which was covered in ripped photos and decapitated heads all depicting the same dark haired girl.

After staring at them for several minutes she retrieved another photo from the larger of the two piles. The same girl was now trying not to smile as she elbowed her in the ribs presumably for giving her bunny ears, but the blonde's devilish grin gave away the possible location of her other hand. They were both wearing huntress attire, and from the blood and sweat clinging to their clothes and the exhausted looks on their faces this seemed to have been taken shortly after a long battle or intense training session. She could almost feel the other girl's aura radiating off the image as their souls intertwined and their bond grew closer and more intimate.

She took the corner of the photo in between her teeth again just as the door across the room creaked open letting in light from the hall.

"Yang?" a soft voice poking their head in whispered. "Are you awake?"

The photo finished tearing and after she spat out the strip from her mouth she placed the remains carefully back on the bed.

Her visitor watched for a moment before lowering her red hood and removing her black coat and boots, never taking her concerned eyes off her. "Sorry it took so long," she said brightly. "I was halfway home when Dad called screaming 'Ruby! I forgot to put milk and eggs on the list!'. And that happened more than once. Uh, sometimes I really hate having super speed, but I got you a big package of those cinnamon rolls you really like." Her eyes glanced down at the floor in front of the bed. "I see you've been busy..."

When she didn't get a response the caped-girl walked across the room careful not to step on any of the mutilated pictures before sitting down on the left side of her sister. She reached around and snatched one of the photos, this one of the blonde and the dark haired girl wearing gorgeous ball gowns and dancing together while their respective male dance partners stood behind them drinking punch and looking unsure what to do.

"She'll be back, sis..."

Yang took the photo in her hand when it was offered to her, and promptly put it in her mouth and tore it in two. She then placed the half of just herself back on the bed and retrieved another as Ruby scooted closer.

"That's from your birthday, sis. I don't think I've ever see happier..."

She stared at her former self and the immaculate hair she'd woken to that morning that wasn't dull in color and in an easy to manage ponytail like it was now. Her low cut top was being worn to show off, not because it was the only thing she could get in and out of without assistance. And her once tanned skin no longer had a soft glow reminiscent of sunlight.

Her past self wore a pink tiara that read 'Birthday Girl', and she sat at a booth with lavish gift bags and wrapped presents surrounding her, as well as a giant chocolate fudge sundae. One of the boxes had been opened, and she was slipping into a black leather jacket with yellow stripes and cats and bumblebee patches sewed in. A matching jacket was being put on by the girl beside her who had tears in her eyes as she received a hug from her thankful and ecstatic partner.

Yang crumpled the photo in her hand making a white knuckled fist that shook.

"I hate her," she whimpered, swiping away all the photos before burying her face in the younger girl's shoulder. "Why did she have to leave me?"

Ruby embraced her tightly, rubbing circular patterns in the middle of her back. "I-I don't know," she choked, "but I miss her too..."

Yang pulled away suddenly and through blurry eyes glared at her. "She was my partner, Ruby! She was the first person that I shared my all of my aura with! I let her see parts of myself that I don't even let you see, and she threw it all back in my face!"

"Sis-"

"At least your partner stuck around and told you goodbye before leaving!"

Ruby swallowed and set her jaw having expected another outburst like this. "Weiss stayed for as long as she could and longer than she should've. You know that. She practically had to be dragged out of your hospital room by her dad's security team, but you're right, and I'm sorry. She and I hugged for what felt like forever before saying goodbye, a-and every minute I'm not with her hurts. And I can't imagine how she feels being all alone in Atlas right now..." Her voice cracked and tears welled up in her eyes. "She was my first too, sis, and I wish both she and Blake were-."

At the mention of her former partner and best friend's name, Yang's pupils disappeared into crimson and she cried out slamming an elbow into her sister's chest. A reddish glow shimmered around Ruby as her aura faltered and she doubled over slightly, and after taking several deep haggard breaths all the while staring callously at her, Yang's now puffy lilac eyes widened and she threw herself onto her.

"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it I swear!"

"It's okay," Ruby said between her teeth. "It didn't hurt. I knew it was coming..."

Yang let out a miserable wail and fell over onto the bed hiding her tear streaked face. After taking a moment to catch her breath and rub the pain away, Ruby crawled over and began playing with her ponytail when the girl suddenly made a retching sound as though she were drowning.

Rose petals as well as photos flew through the air and a trashcan was suddenly beside Yang who she was lifted up into a sitting position with her head between her knees. Several minutes later when nothing else would come up she began to dry heave violently, and cried out clutching at her chest.

Once her mouth had been cleaned and her irregular breathing finally became shallow again she collapsed lifelessly back onto the bed, her head being guided gently onto a pillow.

Ruby peered inside the trashcan. "You haven't eaten all day, sis," she said quietly, "and you barely ate breakfast yesterday..."

Her sister remained silent, and that was when she noticed the half-empty bottle sitting on the nightstand. Ruby reached over and gave it a quick whiff but withdrew feeling her nose hairs tingle.

She unceremoniously dropped it inside the trashcan and frowned at the barely breathing girl. "Where'd you find the booze?" Yang didn't answer. "You know you're not supposed to drink anymore, sis..."

"Works better than the painkillers, antidepressants, and all the other crap the doctors gave me," she mumbled into the pillow.

"Did you take them at noon like you're supposed to?" Her sister nodded. "Are you lying again?" She shook her head.

Ruby sighed and moved the trashcan away hoping it wasn't needed again seeing how they were laying on her bed, and she had just washed the sheets the day before. She crawled atop and over her sister so they were facing each other, and wrapped her cloak around them. She brushed the damp bangs out of her eyes before holding the good hand she wasn't laying on and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Her eyes reopened and Yang sniffled. "I hate her," she whimpered again, "and I just want her back..."

Ruby nodded and wrapped her arms around her. "I know, sis." She kissed her and flared her aura so that rose petals tickled her stuffy nose. "She'll be back. I promise..."

Yang sat up and immediately regretted it it as sharp, burning pain stabbed her in the chest once again. She opened her watery eyes and tried to cry out but it was caught on the back of her throat. Finally after what felt like an eternity of being left paralyzed by agony, fear, and emptiness, she wiped her face and propped herself up with an elbow. In the darkness she could just make out a ball of fur curled up at her exposed feet, as well as the silhouette of a person with cat ears atop their head laying on the other side of the bed hogging the blanket. She awkwardly scooted over and planted a kiss on the back of the head which involuntarily flinched.

They mumbled something sleepily and attempted to face her, but Yang simply took back her fair share of the blanket that smelled like rose petals, and pressed up against the warm body that was pretending to still be asleep. She wondered if falling asleep with their auras intertwined had caused them to share dreams again, and if so couldn't help feeling guilty that perhaps the other participant had been on the opposite side of the pushed-together beds for a reason. While pondering the matter she caught herself drifting off several times but caught herself each time wanting to stay awake and enjoy the long awaited moment for just a little while longer.

The ball of fur pawed at her feet for disturbing its rest before collapsing against them again. Yang couldn't help from smiling, and feeling herself drifting off again she flared what little aura she had knowing it wasn't doing her any good in hopes of guiding the next dream. She heard a stifled sniffle beside her, and reached up to dry their cheek and embrace them.

"I missed you..."

(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. "The Prodigal Stray" is a story that has become very near and dear to me, and "The Twilight Dragon" now is no exception. This story will explore some of the more mature themes that its predecessor alluded to, but for the moment it'll be keeping its Teen rating. As shown in this chapter there will be occasional flashbacks to Yang's suffering prior to "The Prodigal Stray" and Blake's return. Also, I don't consider this a "Bumblebee" story, merely the story of two best friends who share the same soul also sharing their pain with each other. I hope for this story to be a source of encouragement, and I hope you enjoy.

RWBY as well as the cover image of "The Twilight Dragon", the silhouette of Yang from the Yellow Trailer, belong to Rooster Teeth.

All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with this story and all of you. God bless)